Auxiliary car-step



Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

H. L CLAPP, DECD. n.1. cLnrPg Anmmsrnnmx. AUX'IUARY CAR STEP. Arpucmou mib ocr. 14.11919.

EI//a UNITED STATE-s Pai-'Eurortica-e HERBERT L. CLAPP, or oHEcoTAi-i, OKLAHOMA; MYRTLE A. cLArP v.anni'iivisritarizix or SAID irniaianruri..v orari, nncEAsEn. l, .i l

AUXILIARY CAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent. Y

' Patented Apr.5,19 21.

Applicationled October 14, 1919. l*Serial No. 330,574.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HERBERT L. CLAPP, a citizen of the United States, vresiding; at Checotah, in the county of McIntosh and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auxiliary Car-Steps; and I do hereby declare the f ollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to improvements in folding steps especially adapted for use on railway cars while not necessarily restricted to such use.

An important object of this invention 1s to provide novel means for supporting the step and guiding the same to operative and inoperative position.

A further object is to provide a folding step having novel means for retaining the same in an inoperative position.

A further object is to-provide afolding step which is simple to operate, of highly simplied construction, and cheap to install in stair-cases already built.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved step applied to a stairway, the same being shown extended,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same, the steps being shown in an inoperative position,

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the step extended,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4 4. of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment Vof my invention, the numeral 10 designates the sides of the steps which includey tread and riser elements 11 and 12 respectively.

My improved extension step includes a tread 13 connected to a riser 14 by L-shaped metallic hangers 15, secured to the tread 13 and the riser 14 by rivets 16 or other suitable fastening devices. The upper ends of the hangers l5 are provided with rounded heads 17 slidab-ly arranged in'slots l18. The slots 18 are secured to the sides 10 by suitable fastening devices 19 and have their .forward endportions curveddownwardly as indicated at 2()y to permit of the downward movement of the extension step when it is desired toextend or position the same for use. The forward ends of the slots 18y are closed to limit the downward movement of the step.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, thev` hangers 15 engage the forward portion of the lower stationary step when the folding step is extended and thereby'serve to prevent swinging of the extension step when extended.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, I have provided a longitudinally movable locking rod 21 arranged rearwardly of the lower riser 12. The locking rod 21 is provided with a pair of dogs 22 and 23 pivoted to the same as indicated at 24. The Shanks 25 of the dogs 22 and 23 extend through slots 26 in the riser 12. The dog 23 has its shank 25 pivoted to the lower tread 11 as indicated at 27. The dog 22 is pivoted at its forward end to the tread 11 as indicated at 28 and is adapt'- ed to move out of engagement with the riser 14 upon the movement to the left of the locking rod 21. An operating loop 29 is provided on the locking rod 21 and is arranged outwardly of the sides 1Q of the steps. A spring 30 is adapted for normally retaining` the dogs 22 andr23'in engagement with the riser 14. When the loop 29 is drawn to the left the dogs 22 and 23 are drawn vout of engagement with the riser 14 of the extension step. The extension step is now free to be positioned for use below the lower stationary step and is held against rearward movement by the contact of the hangers 15 with the forward portion of the lower tread 11.

preferred embodiment of my invention, it is` understood that such minor changes in arrangement and construction of parts may be made as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. The combination with a stationary stairway having a tread and a riser', of an auxiliary step including a tread and a riser and adapted to be arranged on the stationary tread when in an inoperative position, of a longitudinally movable locking rod arranged rearwardly of the stationary riser, locking dogs piveted to the longitudinally movable locking rod, spring means to normally retain said dogs in engagement with the riser of the auxiliary step, and means to support the auxiliary step when ex-` tended.

2.-.The combination with a stationary auxiliary step including a tread and a riser and adapted to be arranged at times on the stationary tread,'of a locking rod arrangedk rearwardly of the stationary riser, locking means carried by the locking Jod, means to normally retain said locking means in engagement with the riser of the auxiliary step, and means to suspend the auxiliary step in extended position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Y v HERBERT L. CLAPP. n Witnesses: A

WM. MCDOWELL, H. H. ,Wonrn 

